sidz used our news submit to tell us that people that attempt to copy movies or music could face jail after new legislation was put under proposal by the US justice department. The new proposal means that even people that try to make copies of games, music or software and fail could still go to jail.
The proposed change means that investigators can seize possessions that have been bought with assets from illegal sales. The investigators can also seize media that could be used to make copies in the future. The infringer could also be forced to pay money to the copyright holder if they are found guilty.
The recording industry was quick to endorse the bill, but a public interest group said the bill should consider users rights as well. The bill has yet to be introduced into the US congress as of yet. In the past the US congress has threatened to pass legislation to help copyright holders protect their rights. Just recently they helped the media industry strike a blow against file sharing networks by saying the network owner was responsible for the content that is shared on it.
It would also enable investigators to seize assets purchased with profits from the sale of illicit copies, as well as property such as blank CDs that might be used for future copying. Those found guilty of a copyright violation could be forced to pay restitution to the owner of the material in question, and repeat offenders would face stiffer sentences. "This legislation is a reflection of the sustained commitment on the part of the Bush Administration, including the Department of Justice, to ensure that we are doing everything we can to combat this problem," Mr Gonzales said in a press release. A recording-industry trade group praised the bill, but a public-interest group, Public Knowledge, said the Justice Department should consider measures that would protect consumers' fair-use rights as well. The bill has not yet been introduced in the US Congress. In recent years the Congress has strengthened copyright laws to help media companies battling the widespread copying of their works and law enforcers have increasingly targeted groups that release movies on the internet hours after they appear in cinemas. The US Supreme Court also struck a blow for the entertainment industry in June when it ruled that internet file-trading companies can be held liable if they induce users to break copyright laws. |
Source: Australianit
